The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team dropped a heart-breaking 7-6 overtime decision to #4 Boston College on Saturday night in the 2010 Hockey East title game at the TD Bank Garden. The Black Bears scored a pair of goals in the final 5:01 of the game to force overtime and had on three different occasions tied the game. Maine finishes with a record of 19-17-3 on the season, while Boston College improves to 25-10-3.

Boston College took a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at 11:44 of the first period. Carl Sneep received a pass from Pat Mullan and fired a shot that beat Maine goalie Dave Wilson (Caledon East, Ontario) glove side. Jimmy Hayes also assisted on the gaol.

Maine tied the score at 1-1 24 seconds later when Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) tipped home the rebound of a Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) shot before BC goalie John Muse was able to cover the puck. For Nyquist, it was his 19th goal of the season. Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) also assisted on the goal.

The Eagles regained the lead on a Matt Lombardi goal at 15:19 of the first period. Lombardi gained control of the puck from Chris Kreider and tipped it past Wilson. Philip Samuelsson also assisted on the goal.

Maine tied the game once again just 36 seconds later. Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a shot from the point that Diamond tipped past Boston College goalie John Muse. Matt Mangene (Manorville, N.Y.) also picked up an assist on the goal.

The two teams went to the first intermission tied 2-2. Boston College scored a pair of goals the first 5:35 of the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Joe Whitney tallied a power play goal from the blueline just 1:39 into the second period that beat Wilson stick side. Cam Atkinson and Brian Gibbons each assisted on the play. The Eagles made it 4-2 when Lombardi scored his second goal of the game at 5:35 from Matt Price and Brian Dumoulin.

Maine pulled to within one goal when Tanner House notched his 18th goal of the season at 15:04 of the second period. Diamond began the play when he sent the puck to Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) behind the net. Nyquist found House in the slot, who immediately beat Muse.

Boston College extended its lead to 5-3 at 5:16 of the third period. Jimmy Hayes wrapped the puck around and shot the puck through the pads of Wilson. Kreider and Ben Smith assisted on the goal by Hayes.

The Black Bears pulled to within one goal yet again at 8:17 of the third period. An Eagle defender turned the puck over in the defensive zone, The puck went right to David deKastrozza (Toms River, N.J.) who ripped a shot past Muse for his ninth goal of the season.

The Eagles, however, would regain the two goal cushion at 14:23 when Lombardi got the puck to Barry Almeida who slipped the puck under Wilson’s pads. For Almeida, it was his eighth goal of the season.

Maine pulled to within one goal yet again, this time with 5:01 remaining in the game. Maine’s Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) won a face-off back to Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario), who fired a shot past Muse. For Abbott, it was his ninth goal of the season.

Diamond, who provided heroics for the Black Bears all weekend, struck again, this time with just 27 seconds remaining in regulation. With Wilson pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Maine’s House won a face-off back to Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.). Flynn had his shot blocked by a BC defender, but the puck went to Diamond. Diamond fought off a defender and lifted a shot past Muse and into the net, tying the game at 6-6.

The Eagles won the game 5:25 into overtime when Lombardi scored his third goal of the game. Lombardi received a pass from Matt Price and skated to the front of the net and slipped the puck under Wilson for the game-winner.

Boston College finished the game with a slim 34-32 edge in shots on goal. The Eagles had a 16-8 advantage in the first period, while Maine outshot BC 16-5 in the second. Maine was 2-for-8 on the power play, while Boston College as 2-for-5. The Black Bears finish the season with 62 power play goals.

Maine goalie Dave Wilson made 27 saves in goal for the Black Bears. He falls to 3-5-0 on the season. Muse made 26 saves for the Terriers.

Following the game, Maine’s Joey Diamond, Will O’Neill (Salem, Mass.) and Gustav Nyquist were all named to the Hockey East All-Tournament team.

Courtesy of the University of Maine